Branson board approves citywide smoking ban

The Branson Board of Aldermen yesterday approved a citywide smoke-free ordinance.

The ban restricts smoking in most public places. Exemptions include designated smoking lounges, up to 20 percent of a lodging facility’s rooms, golf courses, private residences, outdoor places of employment and restaurant patio spaces. However, smoking is prohibited within 6 feet of outside entrances of public places, except in the downtown commercial district, where it’s 4 feet, according to the terms of the approved ordinance.

Under the law, employers are required to post no-smoking signs, and lounge operators wishing to allow smoking in their establishments are required to provide annual reports demonstrating over 70 percent of sales coming from smoking products,

A person or employer found guilty of violating the smoke-free ordinance could be subject to a fine of up to $25. This contrasts with the original draft’s proposed max fine of $500, the max used for a Branson ordinance violation.

Branson's 2012 Community Survey found 64 percent of respondents indicated a citywide smoking ban in public places was important for the future of the city. A tobacco impact conducted in 2012 found 88.3 percent of residents surveyed would support a comprehensive smoking ban, and 87 percent of Branson Convention Center visitors said it was important for hotels and restaurants to be smoke-free, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.[[In-content Ad]]